kill

[kil] / kɪl /

VERB

deprive of existence; destroy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assassinate drown execute get hit massacre murder poison slaughter slay wipe out

STRONG

annihilate asphyxiate crucify dispatch dump electrocute eradicate erase exterminate extirpate finish garrote guillotine hang immolate liquidate lynch neutralize obliterate off sacrifice smother snuff strangle suffocate waste zap

WEAK

do away with do in polish off put away put to death rub out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

save

STRONG

free help leave alone let go maintain preserve

VERB

turn off; cancel

Synonyms

STRONGEST

stop

STRONG

annul cease counteract deaden defeat extinguish forbid halt negative neutralize nix nullify prohibit quash quell recant refuse revoke ruin smother stifle still suppress veto

WEAK

X out shut off turn out

Antonyms

STRONG

OK aid allow approve assist authorize continue create encourage permit sanction start support validate

WEAK

begin initiate turn on

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Traders told BBC Scotland News before the work started that it would "kill the town".

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

The new therapy differs from Novartis’s approved Pluvicto prostate-cancer treatment in the radioisotope it uses to kill cancer cells, Vontobel says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

But she garnered urban legend status for making the call to kill off one major and beloved character.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

At the same time, they remained able to fight and kill Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

From Science Daily • Jun. 1, 2026

“Samson may be evil,” Jack said, “but he’s still just a horse. The Huntsman will outsmart him...or kill him. Either way it’s not going to take too long. We’ve got to get out of here.”

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

kill

Example Sentences

Related Words